1. 11.1: Introduction to Limits
Pre-Calculus Honors
11.1: Introduction to Limits
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2. Example 1 – Finding a Rectangle of Maximum Area
You are given 24 inches of wire and are asked to form a rectangle whose area is as large as possible. What dimensions should the rectangle have?

3. Example 1 – Solution
Let w represent the width of the rectangle and let l represent the length of the rectangle.
Because 2w + 2l = 24, it follows that l = 12 – w

4. Example 1 – Solution So, the area of the rectangle is A = lw
cont’d
So, the area of the rectangle is
A = lw
A = (12 – w)w
A = 12w – w2.
Using this model for area, you can experiment with different values of w to see how to obtain the maximum area.

5. Example 1 – Solution
cont’d
After trying several values, it appears that the maximum area occurs when w = 6 as shown in the table.
In limit terminology, you can say that “the limit of A as w approaches 6 is 36.” This is written as

6. Definition of Limit

7. Example 2 – Estimating a Limit Numerically
1.) USING A TABLE TO ESTIMATE A LIMIT.
Use a table to estimate

8. Example 2 – Estimating a Limit Numerically
1.) USING A TABLE TO ESTIMATE A LIMIT.
Solution:
Let f (x) = 3x – 2.
Construct a table that shows values of f (x) for two sets of x-values—one set that approaches 2 from the left and one that approaches 2 from the right.
From the table, it appears that the closer x gets to 2, the closer f (x) gets to 4. So, you can estimate the limit to be 4.

9. Example 2 – Solution
cont’d
The graph adds further support to this conclusion.

10. Example 3 – Estimating a Limit Numerically
2.) USING A TABLE TO ESTIMATE A LIMIT.
Use a table to estimate

11. Example 3 – Estimating a Limit Numerically
Reinforce with the graph.
f(x) has a limit as x  0
even though the function
is not defined at x = 0.
The existence or nonexistence of f(x) at x = c has no bearing on the existence of the limit of f(x) as x approaches c.

12. Examples 4 and 5 – Estimating a Limit Graphically
3.) Estimate the limit graphically:
4.) Use the graph to find the limit of f(x) as x approaches 3, where f is defined as:

13. 11.1: Introduction to Limits
Pre-Calculus Honors
11.1: Introduction to Limits
HW: p (6, 8, 18, 26, 30, even)
Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

14. Limits That Fail to Exist

15. Example 6 – Comparing Left and Right Behavior
Show that the limit does not exist by analyzing the graph.
1.)
2.)
3.)

16. 11.1: Introduction to Limits
Pre-Calculus Honors
11.1: Introduction to Limits
HW: p.759 (46, 50, even)
Quiz 11.1, 11.2: Thursday, 5/26
Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

17. Properties of Limits and Direct Substitution
You have seen that sometimes the limit of f (x) as x → c is simply f (c). In such cases, it is said that the limit can be evaluated by direct substitution. That is,
There are many “well-behaved” functions, such as polynomial functions and rational functions with nonzero denominators, that have this property.
Substitute c for x.

18. Properties of Limits and Direct Substitution
Some of the basic ones are included in the following list.
Also true for trig functions.

19. Properties of Limits and Direct Substitution

20. Example 9 – Direct Substitution and Properties of Limits
Scalar Multiple Property
Quotient Property
Direct Substitution

21. Example 9 – Direct Substitution and Properties of Limits
Product Property
Sum and Power Properties

22. Properties of Limits and Direct Substitution
The results of using direct substitution to evaluate limits of polynomial and rational functions are summarized as follows.